Shock absorber



Jan. 1, 1929.

Re. 17,184 1 E. R. WOLF SHOCK ABSORBER Original Filed Nov. 20, 1

IN VEN TOR A TTORN E Y5 ,Reissued J55. 1;1929.

PATENT oFFlc-E.

' EDWARD It. wont, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

snocx ABsoRBER;

Original No. 1,554,249, dated. September 22,1925, Serial 11 0, 751,165,filed Novembef 20, 1924. Application for reissue filed June 6, 1927.SeriaLNo. 196,978.

This invent-ion relates to shock absorbers and" more particularly toshock absorbers 6r the hydraulic type for use on automobiles. 4Difficulty has heretofore been experienced in shock absorbers ofthistype since it is not always possible to completely fill the cylin-'ders of the same with liquid. This results from the'fact that the pistonrod extends into the cylinder in varying amounts depending on the forceof the shock to be absorbed, and a space must be left in the cylinderequal to the maximum displacement of the rod. The fact i that thecylinder is not completely filled with liquids'results in a noticeablejar .at the in- 5 stant that the device starts to absorb a shock.Diflicult has also been experiencedv in mounting ydraulic shockabsorbers on auto mobiles in such a manneras to provide for the sidesway of the body'relative to the supporting axles. Y An object of thepresent invention is to overcome the above defects by providing animproved hydraulic shock absorber which is so constructed that thecylinder may be completely filled with liquid, and which is so mountedthat the side sway of the body will in no way affect the properfunctioning of the device.

Another object of this invention is to 'pro vide novel means forpermitting substantially free flow of the liquid past the same in thecylinder when the automobile body and axle have relative movementtowards each other,

and to resist flow of the liquid past the same when said body and axleha ve relative movement away from each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel motion-transmittingmeansfor the device which is so constructed that the cylin der normallyassumesa horizontal position, thereby'd'ecreasing the space required forits installation. V

V Other objects of the invention are to provide. a device which isinexpensive to manufacture, simple and rugged in construction and onewhich may be readily applied to auto mobiles now in use. r

lhe invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanicalexpressions, some of which are shown on the accompanyingdrawings, but itis to be expressly understood that the drawings are forpurposes ofillustration only and are not to beconstrued as'a definition 9 to movein a'vertial plane.

of the limits of the invention, reference bemg had to the appendedclaims for that purose.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating'one embodimentof the inventive idea; Flg. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, somewhatenlarged, of the cylinder and fluid controlling means;

Figs. 3 and 4 aresectional views taken on tlhe lindes 3-3 and 4+4,respectively, of Fig.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view, in section, illustrating a secondtype of means for.controlling theflow of liquid in the cylinder.

I Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout the several views, 6 is an axle and 7 a portion ofanautomobile body, the latter being mounted on the axle in any suitablemanner known in the art, as by means of springs .(not shown). Secured tothe body portion 7 at a suitable point is a supporting members for aliquid containing cylinder 9. Preferably, member 8 is provided with aninwardly extending spindle or pivot portion 8' which freely turns in,andis supported by, the body portion 7. A bracket 10 of any suitabletype may be secured to the inner surface of portion 7, as by means ofrivets 11, to. provide a bearing surface for spindle 8 and to strengthenthe body at the point where'the 85 spindlepasses through the same.Retaining means, such as nut 12, is preferably employed for securingmember 8 in posit-ion. If desired, the member 8 may be formed in twoparts, the outer portion or strap 8" surround- 90 ing the outer half ofthe cylinder 9 and being secured to the inner portion by means pt bolts13. Such a mounting permits cylinder In the form shown, the c lindercomprises a tubular portion 14"threa ed at its op site ends to receivecylinder heads 15. A i illing plug 16 may be threaded or otherwiseremovably secured in one of the cylinder heads to permit the cylinder tobe filled with liquid. Each of the cylinder heads is rovided withpacking 17 and a suitable glan nut 18, which latter surrounds piston rod19. As shown in Fig. 2, the rod 19 extends through the opposite ends ofthe cylinder and may be formed in two sections 19 and 19 to facilitateassembly of the parts.

The inner end of the section 19 is exteriorly threaded as at 20,'toreceive a .21, while the inner periphe -with a. plurality valve cage 21which may-be retained in position by means of the cage 21 has an tiallyless than the inder, and is provided with threaded to receive a flangedof openings 24;.

through a central opening in disc 23 is the V the surface over which theably of reduced This reduced portion. is exteriorly threaded disc valve26 spring 27 rod 19 and the section 19 of the piston rod which ispreferdiameter at its inner end.

and extends into a cup 25 formed in the inner end of rod section 19*.Slid-ably mounted on rod section 19 and within the cage'21, is a whichis normally maintained position on disc 23 by means of a surroundingsection 19 and interposed between said valve and the cage 21.

Suitable means are provided for o ratively connecting the rod 19 to theaxle whereby relative movement of the body portion 7 and axle 6 istransmitted to said rod but side sway of the body will not prevent theproper functioning of the device. As shown, this means comprises a bellcrank lever 28 which is connected at its central portion by in seatedsuitable universal joint means 29 to the axle.

6. The vertical arm 28 of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected inany suitable manner to one end of rod 19 while the horizontal arm 28 ofsaid lever is pivotally connected by universal joint means 30 to avertical link 31. The upper end of the latter is preferably pivotallyconnected to the cylindrical stem 8' of supporting member 8 between bodyportion 7 and the cylinder 9.

0pemtion.When the irregularities of vehicle is moving cause relativemovement of the body portion 7 toward axle 6, arm 28" isforced-downwardly by link- 31, the lever 28 swinging about the is forcedto the joint means 29. 'Arm 28 right, as viewed in Fig. 1, carrying withit piston elements, and the left hand end of cylinder 9 issimultaneously swung upwardly about spindle 8'. The pressure of theliquid on the valve disc 26 moves the latter to the left, compressingthe spring 2 uncovering ports 24 and 21', and permitting free passage ofthe piston elements through the liquid. On the rebound, when the bodyand axle have relative movement away from each other, the valve 26 isforced the cylinder 9.

onto its seat and the piston elements and rod 19 move back slowly tonormal position as the liquid flows through the annular space betweenthe-valve cage 21 and the walls of I Since the piston rod 19 at alltimes extends through the opposite ends of the cylinder, regardless ofthe position of the piston-elements the displacement of the piston rodis at out its length and at suitable times the same, and the cylinder'may be completely filled with liquid. The sectional construction of'rod19 greatly facilitates the assembly of the parts.

Fig. 5 illustrates another manner in which the piston elements mayformed. As shown, the piston rod 32 is integral throughpoints isprovided withopenings to receive a pair of pins 33 which extend throughthe rod to serve as retainingelementsfor a disc 34 which sur-' roundsrod 32 and which is provided with a suitable number of openings 35.Slidably mounted on rod 32 is a second disc 36 having an outer diameterthat is much smaller than the inner diameter of the cylinder. A pin 37extending through rod 32 serves as a stop to limit the movement of disc36 away from the ported disc 34. Since the discs 34 and 36 aresymmetrically formed and the pressure on the faces thereof is the sameat all points, there is no tendency for the discs to .cant and bind inthe cylinder. Movement of rod 32 in one direction results in disc 36being moved to a position ad acent pin 37, uncovering ports 35, therebypermitting the piston Movement of rod 32 in the opposite or rebounddirection,

results in disc 36 being moved'to cover the ports 35, whereby move ofthe invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims heretoappended for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What I claim is 1. Ahydraulic shock absorber comprising in combinationwith a body and a supporting axle, a cylinder carried by said body, apiston in said cylinder, a-rod for said piston extending through theopposite ends of the cylinder, a bell crank lever fulcrumed at its elbowon said axle, means pivotally connecting one arm of said lever to saidrod, and a member .piyoted to said body .and the other arm of saldlever. 1

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination with anautomobile ody and a supporting axle, a liquid containing cylinderpivotally secured to said body for pivotal movement in a vertical plane,a piston in said cylinder, a rod secured to the piston and having itsopposite ends extending through theends of the cylinder, a bell cranklever, universal oint means connecting said lever to said axle, meansfor pivotally connecting the lever to ally connected to said body, anduniversal joint means connecting said member and lever.

3. A device of the class described compris- .elcments to move freelythrough the liquid. I

said rod, a member pivotsaid axle, means connecting one arm of thelever; to said rod, and a member pivotally connected. to the other armof said lever and \said body. Y

4. A device of the class described comprising, in combination with anautomobile body and a. supporting axle, a liquid-containing cylindermounted on'said body to turn in a vertical plane relative to said body,a rod extending through the opposite ends of said cylinder and slidabletherein, a piston carried by the rod, a bell-crank'l'e'ver fulcrumed atits elbow on said axle, a pivotal connection between one arm of saidlever and said piston rod, and a link pivotally connected to the 1 bodyat one end and to the other arm'i'of said lever at its opposite'endi' 5.A device of the class described comprising in combination with anautomobile body and a supporting axle, a. liquid-containing cylinder, amember pivotally connecting said cylinder to said body, a piston rod forsaid cylinder,'a piston secured to therod and slidable in said cylinder,:1 bell crank lever connected to said axle for universal move ment,means pivotally connecting one arm of said lever to said rod, aconnecting element ,1 pivotally connected to said member, anduniversaljoint'means connecting said element to the other arm of saidlever.

6. A device of the class described, comprising in combination with abody and-a supporting member therefor, a cylinder pivotally connected tosaid body, a rod extending through the opposite ends of the cylinder,

fluid-controlling means carried by the rodv within said cylinder, saidmeans consisting of a fiat disc having a centeiopening through whichsaid rod passes and having ports passing therethrough, pins passingthrough the said rod one on either side of said disc, a member slidableon the rod to cover the ports in said disc, and means for limiting themove ment of said slidable member,

7. In a shock absorber, in combination.

with a body and a supporting member thereforfa cylinder designed to becompletely filled with liquid, a rod extending through the opposite endsof said cylinder, means 'opera tively connecting said cylinder J androdwith said body and support, said means including connectionspermittingfielative movement about angularly related axes and fluidcontrolling means carried by said rod within'said cylinder, saidfluid-controlling means comprising a piston mounted on said 'rod andhaving a relatively large ported area to permit relatively free flow ofliquid therethrough, and means moved by the pressure of the liquid tocompletely open the ported area or to close the same in order to permitsaid piston to move relatively freely in one direc-' tion and withchecked movement in the opposite direction.

8. In a shock absorber, in combination. with a body and a supportingmember therefor, a cylinder designed to be completely filled withliquid, a rod extending through the opposite ends of said cylinder,means operatively connecting said cylinder and rod with said body andsupport, said means including connections permitting relative movementabout axest disposed at right angles and fluid'oontrolling means carriedby-said rod within said cylinder, said fluid controlling meanscomprising .a piston mounted on said rod and having a relativelylarge-ported areato permit relatively free flow of liquid therethrough,a i member movable on said rod by the pressure of said liquid tocompletely open the ported area or to close the same in order to permitsaid piston to move relatively freely in one direction and with checkedmovement in the opposite direction, and means on said rod to limit theopening movement of said member. 9.- In a shock absorber, in combinationwith a body and a supporting member therefor, a

liquid-containing cylinder, a rod extending through the opposite ends ofsaid cylinder, means operatively connecting said cylinder and rod withsaid body and support, said means including connections permitting relative movement about angularly related axes, and fluid controlling meanswithin said cylinder,said fluid controlling means comprising a pistonmounted on said'rod and provided with a relatively large ported areawhich occupies a sufficient portion of the area of the piston btween itsperiphery and said rod to through, and means moved by the pressure ofthe liquid to completely open the ported area or to close the same inorder to permit saidi' piston to move relatively freely in one directionand with checked movement in the opposite direction. v

10. .In a 'shock absorber, inycombination with a body and a supportingmember therefor, a cylinder designed to be completely filled withliquid, a rod extending through the opposite ends offsaid cylinder,means' operativel connecting said cylinder and rod with said%cludingconnections permitting relative movement about angularly relatedaxes and fluid controlling means carried by said rod within saidcylinder, said fluid controlling means comprising a piston mounted onsaid rod and having arelatively large ported area to perody and support,said means in- 110 permit relatively free flow of the liquid therey mitrelatively free. flow of liquid there through, said piston providing aclearance therebetween and said cylinder, and means moved by thepressure of said liquid to completely open the ported area or to closethe 11. In a shock absorber, in combination with a body and asupportingmembertherefor, a cylinder designed to becompletely filledwith liquid, a rod extending through the 0p-.

posite ends of said cylinder, means operative- 1y connecting'saidcylinder and rod withsaid body and support, saidmeansjnelndingeonnections permitting universal relative move-- mentandvfluid controlling means carried by said rod within said cylinder, saidfluid controlling means comprising a piston mounted on said rod andhaving a relatively large portedarea to permit relatively free flow ofliquid therethrough, said piston providing a clearance therebetween andsaid cylinder, a disc movable on said rod by thepressure of said liquidto completely open the ported area or to close the same in order'topermit opposite direction,- and means on said rod to limit the openingmovement of said disc.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. v

EDWARD B. WOLF.

' said piston to move relatively freely in the

